prefect
pronunciation
How to pronounce prefect in British English:
UK [ˈpri:fekt]
How to pronounce prefect in American English:
US [ˈpriˌfɛkt]
-
- Noun:
- a chief officer or chief magistrate
Word Origin
- prefect (n.)
- mid-14c., "civil or military official," from Old French prefect (12c., Modern French préfet) and directly from Latin praefectus "public overseer, superintendent, director," noun use of past participle of praeficere "to put in front, to set over, put in authority," from prae "in front, before" (see pre-) + root of facere (past participle factus) "to perform" (see factitious). Spelling restored from Middle English prefet. Meaning "administrative head of the Paris police" is from 1800; meaning "senior pupil designated to keep order in an English school" is from 1864. Related: Prefectorial.
Example
- 1. As he is up for election to prefect in his final year , I decided acquiescence was the best strategy .
- 2. He certainly wouldn 't work harder and would only conclude that , despite your relatively advanced age , you were still a petty little school prefect .